Double Standards of Government of India on air pollution

Whenever we talked about the global political economy of climate change, Names like Kyoto, Paris Deal, Rio talks etc. automatically comes to our mind. When we talk about the National political economy of climate change and air pollution - the first things came to the mind of most of the people is Haryana-Punjab farmers! It's all thanks to false propaganda set up and spread by the urban middle-upper class and media. 

The government of India (Not BJP-Congress) is the institution that deals with both political economy of National level and global level. Here I made a small effort to point out the double standard adopt by the Government at both levels.

Since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, Indian stand on the issue of the climate change is based on three principals:-

Historic responsibility:-

Naturally, Climate is a self-regulating mechanism but the advent of the industrial revolution changed the natural balance. 18th century considered as the inflection point of the beginning of climate change. Though the climate is Common good that belongs to every human on earth, historially developed states pollute disproportionately it as they are industrialized since last 200 years while developing states are still in the stage of industrialization. 

As per the World Resources Institute, between 1850 to 2007- US consist the share of the 28% to pollute Air  So the States like India emphasis on the larger responsibility of the developed states like USA, Britain and G7 members. 

When we think about "historic responsibility" in terms of the national political economy, It's quite obvious that Rich people pollute the environment much more than poor. Air conditons , Private own vehciles , SUVs , Private own industries etc. are the key source of the pollution and most of all belong to rich people. But when it comes to the national political economy. Govt shift the stand. 

Rather than imposing the Burden on rich people, Govt provides them incentive under "Ease of doing business" by relaxing the ecological norms. Rather the Govt impose the burden on a Middle class by imposing new Swacch Bharat cess. Govt. threaten the livelihood of the poor farmer by punishing for the stubble burning. 

Per Capita emission:- 

Comparing nations can be misleading, given their vastly varied sizes and populations. To get a more meaningful picture, it's essential also to consider emissions on a per-person basis. From this perspective, the list is topped by small countries with energy-intensive industries such as Qatar and Bahrain, and the large developing nations such as India and China look significantly less polluting. 

In term of the Emission, India listed 3rd largest emitter but Indian per capita emissions less than the global average emission. So, India press for the responsibility of the basis of the state on the per capita emission. 

 A report by the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, shows that the per capita emission of carbon dioxide by urban households is a shocking 16 times more than rural households. Experts say as households become richer, they consume more energy, leading to more carbon dioxide emission. It simply means that Rich people should have a larger share in contributing to mitigate impact of the air pollution, But government policy does exactly opposite.

Air conditions emit HFC gas which has 15,000-20,000  more dangerous than the Co2 which is produced by stubble burning. But there is no ban on AC while banning the stubble burning. The irony of ours is that Editorial staff sitting in Air conditions chambers of the Media houses criticize the Stubble burning of farmers ! 

Common but different responsibility (CBDR):-

There is agreement on the developed and developing states that there is a need to stem the climate change. But for that states need resources that Developing states don’t have. So India advocates the principal of the CBDR under which developed states have to take larger responsibility as India and other developing states cannot afford costly solar and wind energy.

But when it comes to national affairs, here also Govt. discriminate the farmers. Economically farmers are the most vulnerable section of Society. A farmer cannot afford the "Fancy" technology to reduce air pollution. Here the rich middle-upper class has to take a larger responsibility.

If you observe the day to day activity closely than you may easily find out that how it's rich pollute environment and poor have to pay to stem it. Take Example of firecrackers. It's true that all section of society does it but generally poor people afford to burn crackers worth of thousands of rupees and not the poor farmer's kids who're father committed suicide due to debt. Rich people burn crackers, Enjoy it which emit pollutant and then turn on AC and Air purifier in their room and sleep. But A poor person living on footpaths have to breathe that poor air. 

Here I am not defending or encouraging the practice of stubble burning. I am very well aware of the fact that it turns the Delhi as a Gas chamber in the month of December and January. My point is simply that - You can not criticize farmers for that. All - we all are equally responsible for that.

Do you know why farmer burn stubble? Just because they have to practice three crop season for the year to survive. It left a very small gap between the harvesting of crop and sowing of the new crop. This push Farmer to burn stubble to quickly clear the farms. One should go to the site of the down to earth magazine website which beautifully explains the issue of the Stubble burning. If you read, you will find that farmers have no option except than to burn stubble.